Workplace Bullying – Part 1

Us trades people think we’re immune to office politics because we forgo the office for a dusty work site. However, being bullied on site happens more than you would think. It’s sad that we even need to have these policies in place or have toolbox talks about this topic. We are all adults and by this point in our lives we should understand how to be kind and respectful to one another.  At work we all have the right to a safe environment. So let’s go over a few things.

Bullying isn’t just shoving someone in their work locker, it’s any time you knowingly do or say something to someone you know will be unwelcome. This can be saying unwanted comments, starting rumours, any unwanted touching, threats, written or said, sabotaging somebody’s work, lewd or crude comments or photographs in the workplace, excluding someone purposefully, and the list goes on. I know a lot of workers make jokes with each other, but if your jokes are intended to humiliate, it’s actually bullying. Also joking is when both parties want to be included. You may think your jokes are funny but if they are directed at somebody with malicious intent, you have no idea how it could affect that person.

Bullying affects every worker differently. Some may be able to shrug it off (still doesn’t make it acceptable) whereas other workers may take it very hard (not meaning that they, by any means are weaker). When someone is being bullied it affects everyone. A worker being harassed may not have the job on their mind, they may be distracted, have a loss of concentration, high anxiety, self doubt, or afraid to ask for help when they need it. We have enough to worry about at work; like making it home alive. So when a worker has all these additional worries, it could affect their safety. So how do we stop it? Come back tomorrow and we’ll go over it.